Doing Church Or Being The Church

"I [Jesus] know your works, that you [Sardis] have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. " Revelation 3:1

I heard a pastor say the other day that "it is easy to do church and not be the church." Being a Christian is so much more than doing good things in the world. Lots of people who are far from God do good things. And those good things, magnified by a billion are not good enough. Like a young child who draws a picture of the family using stick figures and shows her mom. "Look what I did mom!" The child declares. Proud of the accomplishment. The mom praises the child for the wonderful art work. Although it was the best the child could do, it would never find its way into an art museum to be hung among the "masters". It was good for the child. The best she could do. But not good enough. 

"a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." - Matthew 10:17-18

The failing of man is the belief that salvation depends upon his effort - doing the right things that would please God enough that God would say, let that person in. The Bible tells us on a number of occasions about people who wanted to know the way, the method, the formula for receiving eternal life with God and escaping eternal condemnation in Hell. Not even the fact that you go to church will make you good and does not make you a Christian. Although it will expose you to the Truth and many come to faith when they go to church. But just being in the building is not enough. I recall a Christian singer from the '70s, Keith Green, said "Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds make you a hamburger. It is not merely sitting in a pew but yielding your heart by faith to the Son of God that makes the difference. 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:8-10

Pretty simple when you read it but hard to remember when you are challenged with living it.  It's grace plus faith not our works plus more works. It was God's plan all along - it was man's idea that there must be something more he must do besides that.

Why do I share with you? Christians who have already yielded their hearts. Because you may meet someone who needs to hear it who is trying to be good enough, struggling in life. Someone who needs Jesus. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone